Is there a difference between liquid and dry measuring cups

Elizabeth Laseter is a writer and editor with over a decade of digital content experience in the food and cooking space.

I am going out on a limb here and estimating that at least 4 out of every 10 homes now only has 1 set of measuring cups. And this one set is used to measure both dry and liquid ingredients… right? Well wait…. Dry measuring cups are meant to be filled right up to the top and then leveled off with a straight edge. Well, let me explain.

Is there a difference between liquid and dry measuring cups

Liquid and dry measuring cups both usually use the same unit of measurement to determine the volume of ingredients. However, there is a significant difference between grams and fluid millilitres. When a liquid cup claims that 1 cup is equal to millilitres, they are really referring to fluid millilitres. When it comes to dry measurements, this unit no longer applies. Dry ingredients can vary greatly in weight compared to liquids, meaning they require a different type of conversion. For instance, a cup of chocolate can weigh up to grams, whereas a cup of flour can weigh grams. So no, they are not the same thing! As well as requiring different forms of measurements, dry measuring cups and liquid measuring cups also have different designs. Dry measuring cups are designed to hold the exact cup amount of an ingredient. In addition, dry measuring cups are designed to level off your ingredients quickly with a flat edge to assure you have the correct measurement. On the other hand, liquid measuring cups usually have a handle that allows for ease of pouring. In addition, they are typically wide enough so that you can pour a liquid in to be measured without it spilling. If you tried to fill a dry measuring jug with liquid, you could easily find yourself spilling the contents since you are required to fill a dry measuring cup to its total capacity for the correct measurement. While liquid measuring cups are well suited for their purpose, it is impossible to level off dry ingredients in them, meaning you can never be sure if you are using the correct measurements if you use the wrong cup.

LOL Hey, you better care there buckaroo! Create profiles for personalised advertising. Let's Hit the Road.

I see people on TV using one set of measuring cups for liquids and another set for dry ingredients like flour and sugar. Is that really necessary? Liquid measuring cups and dry measuring cups have one big thing in common: They hold the same volume. A 1-cup liquid measuring cup and a 1-cup dry measuring cup, for example, both equal 16 tablespoons. I hate doing dishes, too, Jean. But hear me out.

So, a fairly typical question bakers ask is whether it is necessary to have different cups for measuring liquid ingredients, as opposed to solid ingredients. However, they are each specifically designed to best measure each type of ingredient, whether liquid or dry. Liquid measuring cups are, as the name suggests, designed to measure liquids like water and milk. Dry measuring cups are designed to hold dry ingredients like sugar, flour or chocolate chips. When using a dry measuring cup to measure a cup of flour, the standard procedure is to fill the cup so that it overflows, sweep off any heaped excess, and level the flour off.

Is there a difference between liquid and dry measuring cups

I see people on TV using one set of measuring cups for liquids and another set for dry ingredients like flour and sugar. Is that really necessary? Liquid measuring cups and dry measuring cups have one big thing in common: They hold the same volume. A 1-cup liquid measuring cup and a 1-cup dry measuring cup, for example, both equal 16 tablespoons. I hate doing dishes, too, Jean. But hear me out. Shop smarter with our ATK Reviews team's expert guides and recommendations. Liquid measuring cups have extra space at the top to prevent sloshing or spilling liquids. When you pour dry ingredients such as flour, oats, or sugar into a liquid measuring cup, they tend to mound in the center. Any peaks or valleys will make your measurements inaccurate.

Safeness synonym

Thanks for your feedback! Dry measuring cups are for—you guessed it—dry ingredients. Whilst most liquid and dry measuring cups only measure their respective ingredients. Molly Bolton is a self-taught home baker, recipe developer, and food photographer located in Birmingham, Alabama. Dry measuring cups are designed to measure dry ingredients like flour, nuts, and berries, while liquid measuring cups are designed to measure liquids like water, cooking oil, and yogurt. So no, they are not the same thing! Doing so with a liquid measuring cup could result in tapping or packing the flour down, causing you to add more than the recipe needs. Job Opportunities. Measure advertising performance. Was this page helpful? Search for Deliciousness. That is incorrectly written. She really went out on a limb for you. For best results, gently spoon dry ingredients into the cup until overflowing, then use the dull edge of a knife to sweep off the excess.

Liquid and dry ingredients are measured with different types of measuring cups. Learn why the right tool for the job matters. Baking is a science.

Now this may not be that much of a difference in cooking but in baking it can make a world of difference? The bottom of the meniscus the curved surface line at the top of the liquid should be even with the measurement line. Diversity and Inclusion. For the dry measuring cup the line is the top of the cup. A dry measuring cup can be leveled off when measuring dry ingredients only. If a recipe calls for an ounce amount of a dry ingredient, the best option is to weigh that ingredient with a scale. But hear me out. This could lead to spillages and incorrect measurements. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. For dry measurements, the rules change. Doing so with a liquid measuring cup could result in tapping or packing the flour down, causing you to add more than the recipe needs. In that case, you may only require a liquid measuring cup. Kitchen Tips. So no, they are not the same thing! Conclusion Dry and liquid measuring cups are designed specifically for their intended use.